Fathers

Loading…

What the Fathers say

Ezekiel 20:25

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

They, it is well known, when they led not a life of toil but indulged in relaxation, not being able to bear prosperity, fell away into ungodliness. What then did God upon this? He laid upon them a multitude of laws with a view to restrain their licence. …

Homilies On 1 Corinthians 7:9 ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

But, why should I not say that the requirements of ancient ceremonies are not good because people are not justified by them; they are figures that foreshadow the grace, by which we are justified.… They are not bad, because they were precepts of divine origin, adapted to times and people, although in this estimate I am supported by the prophetic statement in which God said that he had given to that people "statutes that were not good." It happens that he did not say that they were bad but only that they were not good: that is, such …

Letter 82 ↗

Ambrose of Milan

For a paedagogus, as the word is rendered in the Latin, is the teacher of a boy; and he cannot apply perfect precepts to an imperfect age, because it cannot bear them. Again, the God of the Law says by the Prophet, I gave them also statutes that were not good, that is, not perfect. But the same God has preserved more perfect things for the Gospel, as He says, I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil the Law.

Letter 74.2 ↗

Jerome

[Israel] received statutes that were not good and commandments that were altogether evil whereby it should not live but should be punished through them.

Letter 79.10 ↗